California State Library

The California State Library holdings include many specialized publications and resources for California genealogical research. These include indexes and files such as the Pioneer Card File, and the Biographical Information File. Some frequently used items there include these[1][2] :

California newspapers from 1846 to the present, including a title from every county.

County and local histories

City and county directories

Telephone directories

Biographical dictionaries

Great registers of voters

Genealogical society publications

Historic photograph collection

A helpful guide to the California State Library is:

Gary E. Strong and Gary F. Kurutz, Editors, Local History and Genealogy Resources of the California State Library and Its Sutro Branch (Sacramento, Calif.: California State Library Foundation, 1983). At various libraries WorldCat. FHL book 979.4 H23c.